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About the Name
"Zephyr" means a gentle breeze or a whisper of air. Elijah heard the still, soft voice of God in the gentle breeze and not in the stormy wind, the earthquake or the fire. 1 Kings 19:11-13 To commune in prayer with God in the interior of one's soul and to live in the presence of God is the way of the contemplative lifestyle of the Lay Carmelites who get their inspiration from the Prophet Elijah and the Blessed Virgin Mary. A Lay Carmelite Way of Life
Community Outreach
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About The Founder
Biography of Suveda Thiagaraj, Founder of Zephyr Lay Carmelite Mission Inc.
Personal Background and Faith Journey
Suveda Thiagaraj was born on 11 March 1972 in Coimbatore, India. Was baptized and received the sacraments of first communion and confirmation in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Coimbatore, India. Was married in December 1998 but marriage was annulled after her divorce in June 2009. In June 2009 she also started her formation with the local Lay Carmelite Community. She was received and professed into this third order of the Carmelites in May 2012. She lives with her two children in the suburb of Rochester, New York.
Suveda was introduced to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in 1990 after her mother was miraculously healed of a brain tumor without medical intervention during a Charismatic Retreat conducted by a Jesuit priest Fr. Francis Rebello in Westbrook, Kotagiri, India. This was a kairos moment for the entire family.
Christian Leadership and Service
Suveda was a religious education teacher for elementary school children her local church communities for 2 years in India and for about 6 years in the United States. She has facilitated and led several bible study groups, workshops and seminars in her local church communities. She was professed as a Lay Carmelite on May 6, 2010. Her leadership within the Lay Carmelite community includes serving six years as the Formation Directress for the Rochester community, where she also was the editor of the newsletter and pioneered virtual meetings for homebound members. From 2023 to August 2024, she served as the Provincial Coordinator for the North American Province of Saint Elias. In this capacity, she represented the Province at the International Congress in Rome and the Conference of Formators of the Americas in Peru. She contributed to the publication of Carmel’s Call Edition 12. Her spiritual work continues through hosting daily prayer meetings and providing spiritual direction and accompaniment to individuals seeking to deepen their prayer lives.
Pilgrimages
Suveda has extensive experience with self-directed pilgrimages. Over the years, she has visited numerous sacred sites across the Holy Land, including Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt. Her travels through Europe have been equally comprehensive, covering Lourdes, Paris, Nevers, and Reims in France; Lisbon, Fatima, Santarem, Coimbra, Ourem, Óbidos, Nazaré, Fort of St.Michael, Batalha Monastery, Alcobaça Monastery and several historic monasteries in Portugal; and a wide range of significant locations in Spain [with 206 Tours], such as Barcelona, Montserrat, Manresa, Zaragoza, Toledo, Madrid, Santiago de Compostela and San Sebastian de Garabandal. In her two trips to Italy, she visited Rome, Sienna, Florence, Pisa, Assisi, Perugia, San Giovanni Rotondo, Sorento, Amalfi Coast, and the historic site of Pompeii. In addition to these journeys, Suveda has visited the Oratory of Saint Joseph in Montreal, Canada, and has made two separate pilgrimages to Medjugorje. She also frequently visits various shrines throughout United States and India [her country of origin].
Education and Career
Suveda was educated by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary at St. Joseph's Matriculation School and the Presentation Sisters at Nirmala college where she completed her Bachelors in Mathematics and was unanimously elected as the Head Girl to represent the student body in her final year. She completed her Bachelors in Education and also obtained a Masters degree from Regional Engineering College n.k.a. National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, India. After her graduation she worked as a Senior Officer in the Information Technology Department at SRF Ltd., Manali, India. In 1997 she migrated to the United States of America and worked at Xerox Corporation performing numerous roles with increasing responsibilities within Xerox Information Management starting as a software developer and became a Senior Manager in 2010 and remained in that position until December 2018.
Founding of Zephyr Lay Carmelite Mission
In July 2019 Suveda founded the Zephyr Lay Carmelite Mission Inc. a Catholic non-profit that seeks to positively impact the lives of those who are in need of prayer support and those who are seeking to deepen their faith life and to develop their relationship with God. Her evangelization efforts include the production of podcasts and inspiring videos on her YouTube channel, publishing books, conducting retreats, and days of prayer. She also provides Spiritual Direction, leads Scripture Meditation, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary, and Prayer Meetings on Zoom daily. You can read more about Zephyr here http://www.myzephyronline.org/
Biography of Suveda Thiagaraj, Founder of Zephyr Lay Carmelite Mission Inc.
Personal Background and Faith Journey
Suveda Thiagaraj was born on 11 March 1972 in Coimbatore, India. Was baptized and received the sacraments of first communion and confirmation in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Coimbatore, India. Was married in December 1998 but marriage was annulled after her divorce in June 2009. In June 2009 she also started her formation with the local Lay Carmelite Community. She was received and professed into this third order of the Carmelites in May 2012. She lives with her two children in the suburb of Rochester, New York.
Suveda was introduced to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in 1990 after her mother was miraculously healed of a brain tumor without medical intervention during a Charismatic Retreat conducted by a Jesuit priest Fr. Francis Rebello in Westbrook, Kotagiri, India. This was a kairos moment for the entire family.
Christian Leadership and Service
Suveda was a religious education teacher for elementary school children her local church communities for 2 years in India and for about 6 years in the United States. She has facilitated and led several bible study groups, workshops and seminars in her local church communities. She was professed as a Lay Carmelite on May 6, 2010. Her leadership within the Lay Carmelite community includes serving six years as the Formation Directress for the Rochester community, where she also was the editor of the newsletter and pioneered virtual meetings for homebound members. From 2023 to August 2024, she served as the Provincial Coordinator for the North American Province of Saint Elias. In this capacity, she represented the Province at the International Congress in Rome and the Conference of Formators of the Americas in Peru. She contributed to the publication of Carmel’s Call Edition 12. Her spiritual work continues through hosting daily prayer meetings and providing spiritual direction and accompaniment to individuals seeking to deepen their prayer lives.
Pilgrimages
Suveda has extensive experience with self-directed pilgrimages. Over the years, she has visited numerous sacred sites across the Holy Land, including Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt. Her travels through Europe have been equally comprehensive, covering Lourdes, Paris, Nevers, and Reims in France; Lisbon, Fatima, Santarem, Coimbra, Ourem, Óbidos, Nazaré, Fort of St.Michael, Batalha Monastery, Alcobaça Monastery and several historic monasteries in Portugal; and a wide range of significant locations in Spain [with 206 Tours], such as Barcelona, Montserrat, Manresa, Zaragoza, Toledo, Madrid, Santiago de Compostela and San Sebastian de Garabandal. In her two trips to Italy, she visited Rome, Sienna, Florence, Pisa, Assisi, Perugia, San Giovanni Rotondo, Sorento, Amalfi Coast, and the historic site of Pompeii. In addition to these journeys, Suveda has visited the Oratory of Saint Joseph in Montreal, Canada, and has made two separate pilgrimages to Medjugorje. She also frequently visits various shrines throughout United States and India [her country of origin].
Education and Career
Suveda was educated by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary at St. Joseph's Matriculation School and the Presentation Sisters at Nirmala college where she completed her Bachelors in Mathematics and was unanimously elected as the Head Girl to represent the student body in her final year. She completed her Bachelors in Education and also obtained a Masters degree from Regional Engineering College n.k.a. National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, India. After her graduation she worked as a Senior Officer in the Information Technology Department at SRF Ltd., Manali, India. In 1997 she migrated to the United States of America and worked at Xerox Corporation performing numerous roles with increasing responsibilities within Xerox Information Management starting as a software developer and became a Senior Manager in 2010 and remained in that position until December 2018.
Founding of Zephyr Lay Carmelite Mission
In July 2019 Suveda founded the Zephyr Lay Carmelite Mission Inc. a Catholic non-profit that seeks to positively impact the lives of those who are in need of prayer support and those who are seeking to deepen their faith life and to develop their relationship with God. Her evangelization efforts include the production of podcasts and inspiring videos on her YouTube channel, publishing books, conducting retreats, and days of prayer. She also provides Spiritual Direction, leads Scripture Meditation, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary, and Prayer Meetings on Zoom daily. You can read more about Zephyr here http://www.myzephyronline.org/
